Locomotive ash-pan.



'F. 1.. ROBERTS. LOGOMOTIVE ASH PAN.

APPLICATION FILED B11117, 1909.

941,815. Patented Nov,30,-1909.

attcumq UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIC L. ROBERTS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LOCOMOTIVE ASH-PAN.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, Fnnonnlo L. Ronnnrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive Ash-Pans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention while relating more particularly to ash pans for locomotives and the like, is not necessarily limited to such use.

One of the primary objects is to provide a structure which will permit the useof a large receptacle for the ashes and to employ dumping mechanism, which will not only be held in closed condition by gravity, but when actuated to permit the discharge of the ashes, will move upwardly and outwardly, leaving an unobstructed passage for the ashes, and permitting the same to gravitate freely from the receptacle.

A further and important object is to provide a structure that will not interfere with the circulation of air and the draft of the furnace, is simple so that it will not become readily deranged, is compact so that it will occupy but little space, is applicable to various types of locomotives, and will operate even if parts of the device become held against movement from any cause.

The preferred form of construction is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the ash pan. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment disclosed, an ash receptacle is employed that is substantially in the form of a hopper comprising downwardly convergent side walls 1 having outwardly flared upper portions End walls 6 are also provided, which may be partly 1n the form of screens, as 7. The side walls may also be provided with openings 8 for the circulation of air, guard plates 9 extending inwardly over the openings to prevent the passage of ashes through said openings. The lower portion of the receptacle is preferably a separate section from the upper portion, and is secured thereto by bolts or rivets 10 passing through outstandmg flanges 11 that are carried respectively by the upper and lower sections.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 17, 1909.

Patented Nov. 30, 1909. Serial No. 478,416.

This receptacle is provided with a bottom discharge opening normally closed by a pair of coacting closure leaves 12, preferably of sheet metal having angularly disposed portions that fit against the angularly disposed portions of the edges of the end walls, and said leaves furthermore having depending meeting ribs 13. In case the receptacle is of considerable length, it is preferably dividedtransversely into sections, as shown in Fig. 1, a set of leaves being employed for each section. As these various sets and their mountings are the same, a description of one is thought to be suflicient for all. Bell cranks 14: are pivotally mounted, as shown at 15 to reinforcing plates 16 fastened to the ends of the sections, and said bell cranks have depending arms 17 that are pivotally connected, as shown at 18 to the closure leaves 12 between their side edges. The pivot aXes of the connections 18 are disposed longitudinally of said plates and longitudinally of the locomotive, as will be evident, the ash pan being disposed longitudinally of said locomotive between the side frames 19. The bell cranks have instanding arms 20, to which are pivotally connected links 21 pivoted, as shown at 22 to another link 23. This link is pivoted, as illustrated at 24 to the inner end of an arm 25, one of these arms being arranged at each end of each section. The said arms 25 are carried by a rock shaft 26 journaled in bearings 27 and arranged alongside the ash pan. The 'rock shaft furthermore carries an outstanding arm 28 having its outer end arranged to receive a suitable operating handle or lever, as for instance, indicated in dotted lines at 29. The outer end of the arm 28 is movable between the side walls 80 of a keeper 81 secured to the engine frame, and said side walls have openings 32 to receive a suitable holding pin 33.

It will be evident that when the outer end of the arm 28 is pinned in the keeper, the leaves 12 will be in their operative positions across the bottom discharge opening so that ashes falling into the receptacle will remain therein. hen it is desired to discharge the ashes, it is only necessary to release'the arm 28 and raise the same, whereupon the depending supporting links 17 will be swung outwardly and upwardly away from each other, thereby carrying the closure leaves in a corresponding direction and to positions alongside the side walls. The

entire bottom of the ash pan is thus opened so that the ashes contained therein, will gravitate freely therefrom. Upon releasing the arm 28, the leaves will swing down wardly by gravity and automatically reassume their operative position, as shown in Fig. 2.

In case one of the leaves should become stuck through freezing or other cause, the other will still operate, and to equalize the movement of the links and prevent their independent operation, it will be observed that the links 21 extend upwardly, as shown at 33 above the pivot 22 and have their inner portions curved so that a pin 34: carried by the links 23 will engage between them.

It is to be observed that in the structure set forth, the closure leaves are pivoted to the depending arms 17 of the bell cranks, and are capable of freely swinging thereon, though of course this swinging movement is controlled by the walls, against which the leaves bear in their movements. However, it will be obvious that when the links are swung outwardly and upwardly, the closure leaves will be carried in a corresponding direction, and the weight of the load upon the leaves will be transferred to the portions on the inner sides of the pivot axes, so that said leaves will turn upwardly alongside the side walls of the ash pan. This is therefore a distinct advantage for this particular structure disclosed, particularly in connection with the operating means for swinging the leaves, connected, not directly to the leaves, but to the supporting links or bell cranks, as shown.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art with out further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the herein described invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination with a receptacle having opposite side walls and a bottom discharge opening, of coacting closure leaves for said opening, upwardly and outwardly swinging supports for the leaves pivoted to said leaves between their side edges and permitting the free pivotal movements of the leaves thereon, and. means connected to the supports for swinging the same outwardly and upwardly and permitting the leaves to swing thereon to positions alongside the side walls.

2. In a. structure of the character set forth, the combination with a receptacle having opposite side walls and a bottom discharge opening, of coacting closure leaves for said opening, pivotally mounted bell cranks having depending arms to which the leaves are pivotally connected between their side edges and on which said leaves can freely swing, and an actuating device connected to the other arms of the bell cranks for simultaneously swinging the depending arms outwardly and upwardly to carry the closure leaves in corresponding directions and permitting such leaves to swing on their pivots to positions alongside the side walls.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a receptacle having opposite side Walls and a lower discharge opening, of coacting closure leaves for said opening, bell cranks having instanding arms and depending arms, the latter being pivotally connected to the leaves between their side edges, and constituting supporting means therefor, said depending arms moving the leaves outwardly and upwardly when the bell cranks are operated, and the leaves swinging freely on their pivots to positions alongside the side walls when the bell cranks are operated, an actuating arm, a link pivoted to the actuating arm, other links pivoted to the first mentioned link and to the instanding arms of the bell cranks, said latter links extending above the pivotal connection with the first mentioned link, and an abutment pin carried by the said first mentioned link and extending between the upstanding ends of the said links.

4. In a structure of the class described, the combination with an ash pan having end walls and an open bottom, each end wall having its lower edge formed of angularly disposed portions, oppositely, outwardly and upwardly movable closure leaves, each comprising angularly disposed portions that rest against the angularly disposed edges of the end walls and close the bottom of the ash pan, and means mounted adjacent to the end walls and pivoted to the leaves at the juncture of their angularly disposed portions for supporting the leaves and swing ing them outwardly and upwardly.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

F REDERIC L. ROBERTS.

Vitnesses GALViN T. MiLaNs, B. G. Fosrrnn. 

